Raiders advance 3 wrestlers to PIAA Tournament
Waynesburg Central advanced three wrestlers, while Jefferson-Morgan and West Greene qualified one each into the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships.
The Raiders’ Roan Tustin, Ky Szewczyk, and Brock Evans all had top-four finishes at the WPIAL Class AAA Championship.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Chase Frameli placed third and West Greene’s Colin Whyte finished fourth at the PIAA Southwest Class AA Regional to earn a berth into the state tournament.
Tustin opened the 285-pound bracket with a pin and then followed with two decisions to advance to his first WPIAL title bout against Thomas Jefferson’s Shepherd Turk.
After a scoreless first period, Turk scored an escape for a 1-0 lead. Turk added a takedown in the third period for a 3-0 victory.
“I didn’t choose bottom. He’s real big. I planned on taking him down late in the second, but it didn’t work out. It was just two big guys just scrapping around and it went to his side,” said Tustin. “Whenever I’m wrestling these guys who are 50 or 60 pounds heavier than me, it’s hard to stand up.
“I think I wrestled decently. Everyone can always wrestle better.”
As for the state tournament, Tustin added, “I have nothing to lose.”
Szewczyk was edged by Latrobe’s Jake Braun in the 127-pound semifinals. He stayed alive in the tournament with a 5-3 win over Plum’s Rylen Campbell in the fourth round of consolations.
Szewczyk faced Baldwin’s Owen Klodowski in the third-place consolation. The first period was scoreless and then Klodowski grabbed a 2-0 lead with an escape and technical violation.
Klodowski scored a takedown for the 4-0 victory.
“I expected to make (states), for sure. I’m confident in myself,” said Szewczyk. “I had to win one of the two matches and I won the last one. That’s all that matters.
“I want another medal. I’m not going there just to be there. I’m going there to place. I’ve wrestled in the Giant Center before. I’m not going to let the bright lights affect how I wrestle.”
Evans lost to Thomas Jefferson’s Bode Marlow, the eventual champion, by fall in the 160-pound quarterfinals.
Evans, who was not seeded, stayed alive with a pin against Moon’s Michael Olszewski, a 12-2 major decision over Ringgold’s Jack Duncan, and a 7-2 decision over Baldwin’s Keith Mincin.
However, the run through the consolation took its toll on Evans with injuries to both knees, causing him to cede a medical forfeit to Bethel Park’s Cordan McDonnell in the third-place consolation.
“I lost to Brody Marlow and then ended up forfeiting in the 3-4 match because my knee’s messed up,” explained Evans. “The match before one round a kid tweaked my knee and in my blood round match, I busted my other knee up. So, it’s been a rough day.”
Evans felt he would’ve had a good shot at the bronze medal if he was healthy.
“I think it would’ve been a good match, but I think I would’ve been third. I really do,” said Evans.
Evans had a short turnaround to get his knees healthy, but feels he could do so.
“I have to get healthy for the state tournament and see if I can make my run there. I think I can get healthy with the right treatment and I take it easy,” said Evans. “It’s my first trip to states. First year as a starter. I was behind Nate Jones last year.”
“It’s going to be a tough bracket. It’s a hard bracket.”
The Raiders’ Jake Stephenson finished sixth after he was pinned in 1:46 by Penn-Trafford’s Tasso Whipple.
Frameli opened with an 11-3 major decision, but dropped to the consolation round after he was pinned by Bishop McCort’s Devon Magro.
Frameli advanced to the third-place bout with a pin, 10-3 decision, and 15-2 major decision.
Frameli was awarded a medical forfeit from Frazier’s Ryan Celaschi for the bronze medal.
Whyte advanced to the third-place consolation bout at 215 pounds, suffering a 7-0 loss to Somerset’s Rowan Holmes.
After opening with a pin, Whyte was pinned in the quarterfinals by River Valley’s Chase Stuschal.
Whyte fought his way back through the consolations with back-to-back decisions before losing in the third-place bout.